SALE OF FARM AT SPRINGBANK

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27047, 23 May 1953, Page 8

SALE OF FARM AT SPRINGBANK

LAND COMMITTEE CONSENTS The consent of the Land Valuation Committee (Mr F. F. Reid, S.M., chairman, and Mr C. J. Wilson) has been given to the sale by Ronald Thompson, a farmer (Mr K. A. Gough), of 707 acres at Springbank, near Rangiora, at £l2 an acre, to Keith Edmund Victor Watson, a farmer, of Russells Flat (Dr. A. L. Haslam). When the application was heard by the committee It was opposed by Mr J. Haughey, for the Crown, on' the ground of undue aggregation. The committee reserved its decision in order to consider the evidence and submissions by counsel “The committee is satisfied and finds that for over 12 months Mr Watson made every possible and reasonable endeavour to sell his Wyndale property,” said the decision. “It is also satisfied that he has shown good add valid reasons why he is anxious to dispose of this property and live elsewhere; It was not until it appeared impossible for him to obtain a purchaser for Wyndale that he agreed to lease the property to Mr Cuttance. He has sold the 8150 sheep at present on this property and the committee is satisfied Mr Watson would not have taken this step if he wished to retain a controlling interest in the farming operations at Wyndale. "The property, the subject of the application, is at present barely an economic unit, but if it can be farmed by an experienced farmer with capital available to improve it, its production could be substantially increased. Mr Watson fulfils both these qualifications.

“Having regard to all the circumstances of this case, the acquisition of this property would not, judged by ordinary and reasonable standards, be considered excessive. The application for consent is granted.”